Happiness

With time as tight as it is, sometimes it's good to reach into my card stash box, take out something I've already done and re-work it a little.  Such is the case with this one . . .

 The background stayed intact, but I added the gold frame, the birch tree die cut, the birds, and the sentiment.  I wound up liking it better than the original!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Dark Olive, Light Olive      

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up “Happiness”

Inks:             VersaMark, ColorBox Gold, Marvy Marker Gold

Emb Powder:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, Tall Birch,

                        Impression Obsession Birch Trees (birds only), PaperTrey

                        Ink Angled Labels EK Success punch Scalloped Corners

Doo Dads:    Gold brads     

Garden

This gentle card uses markers I haven't put to work for awhile . . .

The ink in these Wet Looks Markers is designed to stay wet for a longer period of time than usual in order to give you time to add embossing powder, if desired.  On this card, I opted not to.  Another advantage is that the Wet Looks ink also gives you plenty of time to color the whole stamp without having to rush.  I like that!  Lest their name be misleading, the ink dries to the usual matte finish - no wet-looking shine.

Cardstock:   Fox River Crushed Leaf: Cream, American Crafts Sand         

Stamps:       Image Tree Parchment Script, Hero A Real Violet,

                        Unknown text  “Garden”

Inks:             Memories Soft Sand, ColorBox Sepia Black

Colorants:    Marvy Wet Looks Markers Orange, Yellow, Green

Emb Powder:   Ranger Weathered White, Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Mama Elephant Femme Frames, Memory Box Stitched

                        Rectangle Trimmings, Tim Holtz Tattered Banners, 

                        We-Buys Cute Chrysanthemum: Bugs                   

Happy Birthday

         

This perky typewriter is from a die set I love to use on a frequent basis . . .

I've tried it in various color schemes and have loved them all, but red, black, and white seem to show it off to its best advantage.  The set comes with six varied sayings that are perfectly sized to fit on the sheet of typewriter paper

Cardstock:   Champion Snow Day, Strathmore Ultimate White, Wausau

                        Firecracker Red         

Stamps:       Marianne Eline’s Typewriter, Hero Newspaper Background

Inks:             VersaFine Onyx Black

Emb Powder:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Marianne Eline’s Typewriter, Mama Elephant Peek A Frame,

                        Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings

Doo Dads:    Punch Bunch Star 

Thinking of You

In my fabric stash, I came across a gorgeous, slubbed, cream-colored mesh that I think is designed to be used for semi-sheer curtains.  Whatever it is, I have to get more . . .

I backed the inside front of the card with a piece of cream cardstock so that the message wouldn't show through the mesh.

This piece will be a sympathy card, so I kept it simple:  a gentle color, lots of texture, and my favorite embossing powder that cures to a hammered gold finish. 

I've several dies with variously shaped openings surrounded by stitched or pierced details.  My plan is to put all of them to use with various kinds of fabrics and embellishments in the near future, because I really like the way this one turned out . . .

Cardstock:   Fox River Crushed Leaf: Cream   

Stamps:        Hero “Thinking of you”

Inks:               ColorBox Gold

Emb Powder:   Ranger Gold

Dies:              Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Pieces, Memory Box butterflies:

                        Corden, Powell

Emb Folder: Taylored Expressions Weathered

Doo Dads:    Mesh fabric   

Love

Thanks to yet another  broken ankle, compliments of the icy winter we've had, my card-making has stopped for the time being.  Happily, my blog is well stocked into March so that eases the angst a little.  But I was saving this weekend for the fun of doing my Valentines cards.  Sadly, not gonna happen.  So I dug out this sample I made a few years ago . . .

I was into mulberry paper at the time and really should get back to it - lovely stuff.  The wooden heart was mounted over a heart-shaped piece of white corrugated paper, and the corner heart punch-outs were backed with red cardstock to make them stand out.

Happy Valentines Day to one and all!

Cardstock:            Beckett Iceberg, Generic Black, Red Mulberry

Stamps:                  Rubber Tree Whimsical Alphabet          

Inks:                       ColorBox Frost

Emb Powder:         Judikins Opaque White

Doo Dads:              Red wooden heart, red 1/8" ribbon

Dream

Every time I walk my dog Tater, I'm always on the lookout for interesting bits and pieces of natural materials I can use on my cards.  I also find pocket change, none of which ever finds itself on any of my creations . . .

In this case, I lucked onto some textured twigs that had happily remained flexible instead of brittle after they dried.  I painted them with a silver marker and used tiny dots of wet glue to adhere.  As always with delicate layouts, I'll include a thin sheet of foam when I mail it out . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Beckett Iceberg                       

Stamps:       Various texture stamps, Stamp Zia Zia's Grass, "Dream"                

Inks:             Hero Black, ColorBox Black, Frost White

Emb Powder:  Judikins Detail Black, White

Punches:     Various butterfly punches 

Doo Dads:    Twigs painted with silver marker

Enjoy

This piece was originally done as a sample of Copic marker blending . . .

Frustrated by the fact that Copics don't really blend, I did some experimenting with the Copic Blender pen - which also doesn't really blend.  The name notwithstanding, the blender actually functions as an eraser.  If you're still with me on this, all will become clearer very shortly.

I found that if you lay down a layer from the blender pen first and then color over it with the markers, they will blend beautifully!  Go figure . . . better yet, try it out!

Cardstock:   Neenah Solar White, Bazzill Raven

Stamps:       Judikins Four Leaves, Printworks “Enjoy”  

Inks:             Memento Tuxedo Black, Bob Ross Gesso Black,

                        ColorBox Black

Dies:            Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Rectangles Short, Classic

                        Postage Stamp,  Impression Obsession Tied Line, Cheery

                        Lynn Expandable Quilling Strip, Just Rite Charm

Markers:       Copic R39 Garnet, R05 Salmon Red, YR04 Chrome Orange,

                        Y17 Golden Yellow, BG07 Petroleum Blue, BG02 New Blue,

                        G46 Mistletoe, G24 Willow

Dream

A Pinterest post gave me the idea for this one . . .

 After cutting the cardstock to size, I used a swirly embossing folder to emboss the background.  Leaving the piece in the folder to provide support, I then peeled the paper off a white crayon and stroked it firmly over the raised design.  Use the side of the crayon and not the point in order to keep the wax on the raised parts of the design. 

Stroke firmly several times.  When done, remove the piece and sponge on your colors.  Mist lightly to get a slightly mottled look;  this also makes it easy to swipe with a paper towel to remove any excess ink from the raised parts of the design.

I stopped short of rubbing the crayon evenly over the design - this produced a distressed look that I really like for this card.  Rubbing longer will highlight all of the design as it will prevent the ink from soaking into the pattern.  Experiment to see what effect you like . . .

Cardstock:   Champion Snow Day, Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper,

                        Strathmore Bristol White         

Stamps:       So She Stamps “Dream”

Inks:             Distress Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord

Colorants:    Crayola White, Marvy Silver

Emb Powder:   WOW Silver Sparkle, Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Simon Says

                        Butterfly Tendrils, Spellbinders Fancy Framed 

                        Tags 1 

Emb Folder: Sizzix Chevrons & Flourishes Set